Daniil Medvedev was frustrated during his first match of the 2024 ATP Finals when he lost to Taylor Fritz in straight sets. This was partly based on the Russian having three straight double faults to be broken to close out the first set. In the second set, he was broken after Fritz mishit the ball but it still landed in.
After that point, Medvedev threw his racket off the court and was given a point deduction. In the next game, in between points, the Russian tossed his racket up in the air in front of him but he made no attempt to catch the racket. He was ready to be done with the match.
He also seems ready to be done with the 2024 season, too. He is not one to quit on a match or a tournament, but he has grown increasingly tired of the constant ball changes on the ATP tour, and he is not currently playing his best. After his loss to Fritz, Medvedev told the media that he feels zero pressure to play – and win – currently.
Medvedev said after being asked if he was hoping for the year to be finished, “100 percent. It’s the first time I say it…But like I always fight…I’m a good fighter. I am still four in the world. Might be five if (Fritz) plays good (at the ATP Finals). Still pretty decent…But now I’m tired to fight it…Today, actually I had my chances. I’ll have them the next matches. If it doesn’t work out, I go on holiday. I’m happy.”
One player who isn’t – and shouldn’t be – happy is Barbora Krejcikova. Last week on a Tennis Channel broadcast, journalist Jon Wertheim made an off-color remark about his forehead, which was a reference to a camera angle that showed Krejcikova’s forehead. Wertheim was making fun of the player. He thought the remark was made off the air, but instead, it was shown live. Wertheim later apologized for his actions.
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The journalist said, “Who do you think I am? Barbora Krejcikova? Look at the forehead when Krejcikova and Zheng take the court. Eighthead.”
Wertheim, though, should not have put himself in a position to apologize. So what if people saw the remark on television? Even if that had not happened, the reporter would have still been poking fun at Krejcikova to anyone in the broadcast room.
Former ATP No. 1 and current Tennis Channel commentator Andy Roddick addressed the Wertheim and Krejcikova situation on his podcast, Served with Andy Roddick. Roddick said, “If you are a listener of the show, we pride ourselves in leaning into uncomfortable topics in tennis. That doesn’t end when it’s one of us. Our good friend, my co-host, my partner-in-crime Jon Wertheim said something on a hot mic. No one was aware they were on a hot mic. I know how he is as a person. I also know he stepped in s***. I said we have to come on and acknowledge it, even when it’s not comfortable.”
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